The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-23

practice, continued openly to avow
their unlawful practices. believe it ia
only about fourteen years since the
leaders of the Republican party in the
United States, finding that public
opinion required at their hands an
effort to enforce the law of 1862, in
duced the administration to make
show at least of doing so, andin conse-
quence government officers began to
exert themselves more vigorously in
this behalf. Other, and more stringent
laws were subsequently enacted and
greater efforts made to punish violators
of United States laws on the subject.
To test the constitutionallty of the
Supreme Court of the United States,
and that tribunal decided the law to be
constitutional. Still the Mormons,
having become accustomed to the
practice, and being urged by fanatlcal
or interested leaders, continued the
practice. though not so openly as be-
fore, claiming as they did, that they
were governed by higher law" than
that of Congress, Just as the higher law
people of the United States refused
to obey the fugitive slave law" of
Congress. Finally, in prosecutions for
this offense, the efforts of the law Off
GERS became so rigorous that the Nor
mons, whether with or without reason,
raised cry of persecution" alleging
that their enemies we're persecuti ting in
stead of prosecuting them, and that
they were unjustly dealt with; and the
cry of persecution in this case, like all
preceding cases, has had the effect of
uniting in a closer union, one of the
most compact and best organized
10 81, II r., L.
Recently, however, and more espe-
cially since the Democratic party came
into power, there seems to have been q
change in the nature of the efforts to
punish violators of the law. against
polygamy and unlawful cohabitation.
By firm, unyielding and determined,
yet humane efforts, the law is now be-
Ing enforced to such an extent, as you
may have observed, that the open and
avowed practice of polygamy is I'M
known here, although no doubt many
of those who believe in it, also practice
it secretly.
But you want my opinion, or my
judgment. Therefore, to be more ex-
plicit, and to give you an idea of what
believe will be the ultimate result, will
remark, that, If judicious, legal and
humane efforts shall continue to be
made by those having authority to en-
force the laws in existence, in a spirit
of fairness and without apparent or real
malice am prepared to believe that the
peculiar institution" may be depressed
in the not distant future, or, if NnotRen-
tirely suppressed, it will become so I'M
popular that the younger members of
the church will repudiat n|she system
and refuse to engage in iJsVi = actice, and
that as atenet of the Mormon Church
it will become obsolete and fall into
state OF ''innoCuous desuetude."
AS you are aware, at the late Consti-
tutlonal Convention held in this city,
among the provisions of ne Consti-
one providing for total pro-
hibitlon of the practice of
in the proposed State.
There are different opinions as to the
good faith of the members of the con-
vention, some people holding that the
adoption of this provision was a mere
sham, intended to deceive Co.1iess and
the people of the States, and by means
of this deception to procure admission
into the Union of States; while others
believe that the proposition was made
in good faith and that if the State
should be admitted the provision or
bargain would be carried out to the let
ter. What might have influenced the
majority of the convention to adopt the
above provision, l of course have no
means of determining. All that know
Is, that some of the members were, and
are, sincerely DESTROYS that the system
of polygamY should be eliminated from
the practices of the Mormon church. l
say knOaO such to be the case, but per
haps it would be nearer the truth to say
that firmly believe it.
In support of my opinion as to what
may be in the future, will remind u
that at the late election in Utah about
IL, $50 votes were cast out of 20,681 reg
istered voters. OF this number about
Ii 900 votes were cast for the Constitu-
ton and only about 500 against it.
Now, if these 1900 voters were in ear
nest voting in good faith, and are pre-
pared to endorse their votes by future
action. it would seem that before many
years it will be demonstrated that po-
lygamy is doomed
But il Statehood should be granted at
once, CT Il those who clamor for legls-
lative commission in their efforts, the
result might be different.
From what 1 have said you may
reasonably infer, that do not think any
change is at present desirable in the
laws of Congress on the subject.
Let the government persist in a just
and vigorous effort to enforce the exist
ing laws, and I believe a change will
take place. for the better; one which |
will rebound to the interest, to the |
peace and to the happiness of the PEG |
pie of Utah: and, in time, when they |
become reconciled to be governed by |
the same rules and social regulations OF !
these Republican States they will be per
mitted to assume and enjoy the inesti- |
mable joys of Statehood in union with |
all the other states composing our Clio |
rious United States. a contamination |
devoutly to be prayed for. And, now,
my dear sirs, having taken up so much |
space in giving you my opinion as no
doubt to weary your patience, provided |
> on take the trouble to follow me. I |
will take leave OF the subject, and with |
the expression OF feelings of the highest
regard for each of you.
beg to subscribe myself very sin .
cerely, your friend,
HADLEY D. JOHNSON.
Rheumatism